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NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation
GCLA President Mo Garkani of Continental Limousine & Transportation
New York — The National Limousine Association (NLA) and the Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) urge Governor Gavin Newsom of California to appropriately reclassify drivers in the ride-hailing industry as employees, acknowledging that they are not independent contractors, through the signing of Assembly Bill 5.
In an open letter below, on behalf of the membership and Board of the NLA and the GCLA, both organizations implore Governor Newsom to support drivers deserving of employee status:
Dear Governor Newsom,
Founded in 1985, The National Limousine Association (NLA) is an organization comprised of ground transportation providers on a global scale, committed to protecting the integrity of our industry. Similarly, the Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) is a statewide 501-c6 non-profit organization comprised of duly licensed member passenger ground transportation companies throughout the state of California. Together, we advocate for the private ground transportation industry by linking its leading professionals, from owners and operators to suppliers and manufacturers, to create a unified voice that ushers the industry upward.
Assembly Bill 5, authored by California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, mandates that businesses prove the independent contractor status of a hire by passing the "ABC Test." At a glance, it appears unlikely that Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing organizations of the like would currently be able to pass the ABC Test, as the drivers do not meet the second qualification to permit independent contractor status: "The work that the repossession agency performs shall be outside the usual course of the hiring person or entity's business." Both a ride-hailing app entity and the driver are engaged in providing ground transportation services. An entity that provides a ride-hailing app is engaged in providing passenger transportation, not software – this is true just as it is true that a retailer that sells products online is still a retailer, not a software developer. Uber and Lyft have stated that they would prefer to continue classifying their drivers as independent contractors which would deprive drivers of overtime pay. Yet, taxi and private car services now widely provide ride-hailing apps that are indistinguishable in function from ride-hailing app entities like Uber and Lyft, and many continue to pay drivers as employees.
The implementation of new technology should not justify immunity from the laws and regulations that have been put into place to protect employee and labor rights. The drivers of these ride-hailing apps operate in a manner that – with very few exceptions – mirrors taxi and private "black car" services and interact with a large cross section of your populous in California. Therefore, it is only fair that the playing field be leveled, such that all operators and service providers within the industry are required to treat drivers equally without legislative exemption. Deciding not to move forward with Assembly Bill 5 would set a dangerous precedent for not only those in the private transportation business, but in other sectors of industry who will follow suit, misclassifying their employees as independent contractors.
We have been long committed to upholding best practices for all companies that employ drivers for private transportation. As our industry continues to evolve, it is critical that state and local governments enforce proactive legislation. Our organizations go to great lengths to ensure that our drivers receive the proper care, pay and benefits they deserve for their hard work. It is our belief that all ground transportation providers, including ride-hailing services, must perform under the same basic guidelines.
The NLA and GCLA will continue to stand by its operators' drivers and rightly views drivers as an essential component of our businesses and our communities. We respectfully ask that you move forward with Assembly Bill 5 and put into law what is just.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration,
Gary Buffo
Founder and President, Pure Luxury Transportation, Inc.
President, The National Limousine Association
Commissioner, Visit California
Secretary, California Travel Association
Board Member, San Francisco Travel
Board Member, Visit Napa Valley
Finance and Legal Committee, Sonoma County Tourism
Mo Garkani
Owner, Continental Limousine & Transportation
President, The Greater California Livery Association
Visit limo.org for more information about the NLA and gcla.org for more information about the GCLA.
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Coaches on display at Prevost’s 95th anniversary party
Ste. Claire, Quebec — Prevost commemorated their 95th anniversary in June with a celebration at their headquarters that included food, live music, and other entertainment; coaches to explore; and tours of the Prevost manufacturing plant.
Founded in Quebec in 1924 by cabinet and wooden bus builder Eugene Prevost, the company is the oldest coach manufacturer in North America.
Scores of special guests including past and present employees, government officials, and people from the community attended. The extensive vehicle display at the celebration featured current Prevost model coaches, including the newly redesigned X3-45 motorcoach, a converted motorhome, and a corporate coach as well as a mobile service van and a beautiful 1952 Prevost Citadin antique bus restored by the Heritage Society of Sainte-Claire.
1952 Prevost Citadin antique bus
“The 95th Anniversary celebration in Quebec was a huge success as we had more than 4500 people joining us at the factory,” said Prevost General Manager Francois Tremblay. “I’m honored that so many families and special guests were there to celebrate with their Prevost family. We take great pride in what we do and to be able to share 95 years of such strong heritage with our community was a very special experience for us.”
Visit www.prevostcar.com for more information.
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Parsons & Sons Transportation President Scott Parsons (far right) takes delivery of the company’s all-new 2019 MCI J4500 at the Montreal MCI Sales and Service Center
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada — Parsons & Sons Transportation, a charter operator serving scenic eastern Canada, has added a new Motor Coach Industries (MCI) 2019 J4500 coach to their fleet.
Based in Conception Bay South, N.L., Parsons & Sons serves the most easterly province of Canada where tourists enjoy the region’s glacial fjords, waterfalls, cliffs, national parks, and the capital city of St. Johns. The area’s townships and schools also rely on Parsons for group excursions and athletic events beyond their community.
After Parsons took delivery of their newest J4500 from the MCI Sales and Service Center in Montreal, they put the coach into service immediately. President Scott Parsons said he knew he made a successful purchase.
“I like the legroom, the interior design, the lower, more modern driver dash, even the way the sun visor works – it’s a beautiful coach,” said Parsons. “Our drivers are lining up to take it on a trip.”
The model’s performance and MCI service support are additional factors contributing to Parsons’ confidence in the purchase. Operating a mixed fleet of 15 coaches, which also includes a 2006, 2007, and 2016 J4500s, Parsons likes how the J4500 sticks to the road, especially in blustery conditions. The region is Canada’s windiest with wind gusts exceeding 80 mph during serious storms late last year.
The new swing-out style electric e-fan cooling package and a clean-diesel Cummins engine on their newest J4500 are also appreciated for fuel the savings compared to the operator’s older coaches, noted Parsons, the second generation to lead the family firm founded by his father, Richard, in 1962.
MCI’s field support is provided by MCI Technical Solutions Manager Remi Levesque, who is responsible for the region. Onsite service support is provided at the MCI Service Center in Montreal. Parsons also takes advantage of fast NFI Parks service and rests easy knowing 24/7 MCI roadside assistance is always available.
“Our motto is safety, service and reliability, and the new J4500 and MCI support helps us deliver on that promise to our customers,” Parsons says.
Visit parsonsbus.ca for more information.
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